Articles
So That You May Know - 1 John 5:13-15
John wrote his first epistle to solidify the faith of believers and to provide them with assurance. Certain individuals were teaching that Jesus did not come in the flesh and that He was not the Son of God (1 Jn. 2:22; 4:2-3). John described these teachers as ‘liars’ and urged believers to test what they were hearing with what they had received. He wanted them to know that their faith had a solid foundation. He wrote, “what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also…” (1 Jn. 1:3). They had received eyewitness testimony and could be confident concerning their fellowship with the Father and the Son.
The believer’s confidence was still on John’s mind as he concluded his letter. He wrote, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 Jn. 5:13). Can believers possess confidence that they have eternal life? John directed their attention to what they had done and what they were currently in the process of doing. They were believers in the name of the Son of God. Colin G. Kruse writes, “To believe ‘in the name’ (an expression found also in 3:23) means the same as believing ‘in the person’ who bears the name.” These are individuals who continue in the teaching about Jesus that they had heard from the beginning. They are also active followers of what He commanded (1 Jn. 3:22-24). Believers should live with confidence and know that they have eternal life.
John continued to write about the believer’s confidence and what they should know. He wrote, “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him” (1 Jn. 5:14-15). Believers can confidently approach God in prayer because of our fellowship with Him. And we can confidently approach God knowing that He hears our requests. John does not view prayer as a wish list. We are encouraged to ask, but there are restrictions. Our prayers must be according to His will. David Jackman writes, “Our praying is never on a surer foundation when it is grounded in Scripture, for here God’s will is revealed. As we pray Bible prayers, we know that God will hear and answer.” Jesus provided us with the perfect example of one who prayed confidently and according to the Father’s will. His disciples can follow His example.
John wrote to shore up the faith and confidence of believers. They were experiencing a disheartening struggle, but they did not have to live with uncertainty. John’s words concerning eternal life and prayer provides believers with the confident knowledge they need to stand strong. Let’s listen to John’s exhortation!
